As annoying as the cold was, it was the least of my problems.
The creepy creature appeared again, floating around the empty hall. Its head kept jerking from side to side.
Worse, the damn thing was smiling with that toothless mouth. It was so wide I could see straight into the dark hole of its throat.
’I’m fucked.’
Every instinct told me to back away, but one wrong move could provoke that thing, and I wasn’t confident I could handle whatever came next.
’I just have to pretend I can’t see it. Maybe it’s just here for a stroll?’
That would’ve been nice, except the creature floated toward us.
’Of course. Out of this entire fucking hall.’
It stopped right behind Elaine before leaning over her shoulder until its oversized head hovered beside hers.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing."
Elaine didn’t seem to notice a thing. She just rubbed her hands together because of the cold while that disgusting thing practically rested its head beside hers.
Whatever this thing was, normal people couldn’t see it. Unfortunately, knowing that didn’t make staring at it any less disturbing.
’Don’t look at it. Just focus on the beautiful woman in front of you and imagine her kissing you.’
If thinking with the wrong head kept me alive, then who was I to complain?
Just like magic, the smile returned to my face.
Until the bastard moved.
One of its long arms slowly wrapped around her waist, followed by the other.
’Hey, hands off my future wife, you creepy monster.’
Cult Leader System, my ass. Would it kill the damn thing to give its leader one decent attack skill so I could obliterate perverted trash like this?
Elaine shivered harder as a faint white mist escaped the creature’s mouth and spilled over her shoulder before fading into the air.
"Do you feel that?" she asked, her lips trembling.
"A little."
Another cloud of mist rolled from the creature’s mouth.
"It wasn’t this cold a minute ago."
"Maybe they turned up the air conditioning."
It was a terrible excuse, but thankfully, she didn’t question it.
Right now, I was more worried about what that thing might do to her if I reacted the wrong way.
As if it heard my thoughts, the creature tightened its arms around her.
’Is it trying to make me react?’
Nice try.
Dating multiple women at the same time taught me how to keep a straight face under pressure.
Compared to explaining why another woman’s panties somehow ended up in my car, dealing with an invisible monster was very manageable.
At least this piece of shit wouldn’t ask follow-up questions that would put real-life detectives to shame.
"Elaine, how about we get out of here?"
"Yeah."
She stood up, and the creature finally let go before floating back.
We headed for the exit with Elaine right behind me, and the farther we got from the creature, the more the cold faded.
Just as we reached the door, she suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Wait."
Her fingers were freezing.
"What’s the matter?" I asked without turning around.
Instead of answering, she stepped closer until I felt her cold breath against my ear.
"You can stop acting now."
I jumped forward on reflex, turned around, and raised my guard.
Elaine stood there with the same beautiful face as before, but something about her smile changed. It was wider now, almost playful, and somehow that only made her hotter.
’Fuck. I knew it. First Lea, and now Elaine. Seriously, System? Why are the hot ones always crazy and dangerous?’
"You surprised me." I scratched my head and forced an embarrassed smile. "Sorry about that. I scare pretty easily, you know."
Elaine chuckled. "Are you really going to keep playing this game?"
"What game?" I raised an eyebrow. "Wait... is this some kind of prank?"
I snapped my fingers like everything suddenly made sense.
"Oh! I get it. This is one of those prank shows, isn’t it?"
Looking around the empty hall, I gave an impressed nod. "Wow, you guys got me. Those miracles looked so real too."
Elaine’s smile slipped, and for a second, she actually looked like she was second-guessing herself.
"You’re certainly amusing..." She tilted her head. "For a human."
Damn it.
I didn’t like the way she said that last part.